Helping Couples Cultivate Joyful Marriages Through the Power of Play

Welcome to the site for marriage therapists, coaches and educators to help couples improve their relationships by increasing the positive energy and activities in their lives. This site is brought to you by couples therapists and authors Bob Schwarz and Elaine Braff.

“The family that plays together stays together. Elaine Braff and Robert Schwarz eloquently remind us that just resolving conflict will not save a marriage. They do more than tell us that we need to have fun together; they show us how to do it.” — Steven Stosny, Ph.D., Author of How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It and Love Without Hurt

“Robert Schwarz and Elaine Braff are insightful, experienced therapists who present a fresh and lively approach to couples therapy that is highly practical. Helping couples cultivate positive playful attitudes and behaviors is vital to marital satisfaction. Focusing on the positive aspects of relationships like laughter, humor, and fun creates a common bond between the sexes that can help sustain love.”

— John Gray, Ph.D., Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

“This book should be handed out with each marriage license and be required reading for every couples counselor. It’s complete and is all that’s needed to help couples play together and stay together. I review so many books about marriage, but this one is truly unique. Instead of how to manage conflict, it’s all about how to manage fun. Instead of how to fight fair, it’s all about how to play with abandon. You can’t read it without feeling optimistic, inspired, energized and determined to put more frolic and gusto in your marriage and your practice.”

— Diane Sollee, MSW, Director, SmartMarriages.com

“Therapists tend to be serious types and our interventions are not known for their chuckle factor. This refreshing and original book shows how to reawaken play in the lives of couples, from flirting to big surprises, from planned silliness to erotic delights. The authors ask therapists to lighten up and enjoy themselves more.”

—William J. Doherty, Ph.D., Professor, Family Social Science, University of Minnesota; Author of Take Back Your Marriage: Sticking Together in a World That Pulls Us Apart